Five clues on how identities are stolen for tax refunds

The arrest of a South Florida woman, pulled over for speeding 115 miles per hour on Interstate 75, provides five clues on how thieves use others' identities to get tax refunds.

The Miami Gardens 53-year-old was charged last Wednesday with eight counts of identity theft after a Collier County Sheriff's deputy received permission from the woman to conduct a search in her 2006 Lexus. He found more than 100 potentially stolen IDs and fraudulent tax returns.

According to public records, his search led to the discovery of:

A handwritten list of 13 names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers -- enough for a potential thief to file a fraudulent return. People should protect their identities by not giving out their names, Social Security numbers and birth dates as that information can be stolen, according to Sgt. Jay Leiner of the Broward Sheriff's Office.

A large printed list of names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers from a facility in Miami that houses special needs patients. Identity thieves can obtain identities from employees of such facilities as well as medical practices and other offices, according to law enforcement officials.

Federal forms can by used by alleged identity thieves. More than 70 federal information work sheets for filing taxes for 2011 were found in the woman's car. Each work sheet contained a separate name, date of birth and Social Security number.

Tax return credit cards were allegedly used by the arrested woman to obtain cash from fraudulent refunds. Multiple envelopes containing a tax return credit card was found in her car, according to an arrest report. Each envelope contained the account holder’s name, account number and pin number for the card, along with receipts from withdrawals of money in which the woman used the tax return card, according to Collier Sheriff records.

Strangers can prey upon the unknowing. The arrested woman had obtained information on at least eight victims who said they did not know she had it. They told authorities they wanted to press charges for identity theft/tax fraud.